Washing-machine.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. BLANCHARD, OF RIFLE, COLORADO.

WASHINGEMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,381, dated December 10,l 1901.

Application led May 20. 1901,. Serial No. 61,084. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BLANCHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rifle, in the county of Garfield and State of Colorado, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements'in Washing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to washing machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, l denotes the suds-box, having a hinged top 2 for closing the same. 3 denotes a slatted cylinder, the edges of which are beveled or inclined, as shown at 4, for a purpose presently to be explained. To the ends of the cylinder 3 are attached stud-shafts 5, the outer ends of each of which are hung in elongated slots 6, formed in the upper edge of the suds-boX, and to either outer end of which may be attached an operating crank or Winch 7 These elongated slots 6 also serve as an outlet for steam from the sudsboX l. The inner ends of these stud-shafts 5 project a slight distance within the heads of the cylinder 3 and support a concaved rubber 8, which is loosely pivoted to said stud-shafts 5 and is provided with a longitudinal upwardly and rearwardly inclined corrugated rubber extension 9, formed with the rubber 8, said extension serving to prevent the clothes from falling on top or on the rear side of the guard and riding thereon when the cylinder is rotated, as such would be the case Without the extension whensaid cylinder contains an extra quantity of clothing therein. A portion 10 of the cylinder is hinged to the body portion, so as to be swung open to permit of the introduction and removal of clothes,and when swung down may be secured by a fastening ll.

The purpose of the slats of the cylinder having beveled or inclined edge portions is to insure a steady ow of water into the cylinder,

as the inclined edges of the slats are adapted to scoop the Water from the suds-box into the cylinder, and, further, by constructing the edges of the slats in an inclined shape they serve, in connection with the rubber 8, to more thoroughly and quickly cleanse the clothes by being forced against the same by said rubber.

In operation the suds-box being partially filled with water and the material -to be washed placed within the cylinder and the hinged portion of the cylinder closed and fastened to the main portion thereof, the lid of the suds-box is closed, by means of which the cylinder is entirely closed by rotating the crank in the di- .rection of the arrow, thus rotating the cylinder and causing it to force the water through the slats by a scooping action of the inclined edges of the slats into engagement with the clothes within said cylinder. The rubber 8 being loosely pivoted to the stud-shafts is freeto oscillate to a limited extent, thereby serving to force the clothing against the inclined edges of the slats, the extension of the rubber serving to prevent the clothing from coming in contact with the rear portion of the rubber.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a closed suds-receptacle having elongated open slotted bearings in the upper edges of the side walls thereof, a closed cylinder mounted to rotate in said bearings having slats with inclined edge portions for the passage of water into the cylinder, a concavedV rubber pivoted to oscillate within the cylinder whereby to'coact with the inclined edges of the slats, a corrugated rubber extension formed with the rubber projecting upwardly andrearwardly in an inclined position from the said rubber, and said elongated slots of said suds-receptacle also serving to permit the escape of steam therefrom, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. THOMAS E. BLANCHARD. Witnesses:`

O. P. Y. BUECE, W. P. KENNEDY. 

